Extrusion press



Aug., E?, 1948. H. LORANT 2,447,129

ExTmJsIoN PRESS Filed Sept. l1, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. H060 ORA/v7' A TTOQ/v/SYS Aug. l?, 194& H. LORANT 2,447,129

EXTRUSION PRESS Filed Sept. ll, 1945 '4 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR. /uo ouen/v 7- Mrdlf ug. W, 1948. H. LORANT EXTRUSION PRESS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. ll, 1945 INVENTOR. //o Lome/vr- A T TOQNEYS H. LORANT EXTRUSION PRESS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

Haes L oRfa/vr hwk/M f4 TTOQNEKS Patented Aug. 17, 1948 UNITED FS TAT-ES E NT .OF F l CE EXTRUSION PRESS Hugo Lorant, New York, N. Y.

Application-September 11,1945, Serial N0. .615,559

16 Claims. 1

HThis' invention relates to a machine for compressing and extruding substances such as carbon electrodes,` or other mixtures of granular materiaLand' binder substance, or the like.

AIt is desirable to compact such Vmaterials in a Ycontainer before .being extruded therefrom, and one of the objects of the present invention isA to compress the material in a press, and thereafter extrude the compressed material from the same press vand container. 'By previous methods, the material has been compacted by beating in a container outside the press or compacted in other manners in separate apparatus. Such methods require a relatively long time, .particularly the beating procedure, and it has been dilcult to obtain uniform density of .the material. When an exterior.compactingpress has been used, it

'has been diicult to properly clean the same after the material has been removed to the extrusion press.

VIn the present invention, the container is filled gradually under pressure, .the container being .closed during thelling operation, .an adjustable for placing a uniform pressure on .the material as it is fed into a container and for thereafter forcing the compressed material. through an extrusion die. These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings which :are merely exemplary.

In vthe drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan View, partially in section, of oneform of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevation, partially in section, of the press shown in Fig. 1.

, Fig. 3 is a cross section takenalong the line of Fig. 2.

Fig.l 4 is generally similar .to.rFig.. 2 with the exception that the feeding plunger is shown. in withdrawn position and the .container closure memberhas been raised.

v5 is a plan view partially in section of a modied form ofthe invention.

stationary crosshead I.

`by rods 24.

Fig. 6 isan elevation partially in section of the form shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 isa cross section View taken along-.the linel-'I of Fig. 6.

Figfil is a fragmentary sectional View generally similar to Fig. 6 with the exception that the press is ready for the extrusion operation.

in general, the device comprises a press wherein the material to be lextruded isfed into acontainer and compacted to a predetermined density as it is'fed therein, the container during this 'operation having one end closed. The closure vfor the container is then removed and the feeding stem is `employed for the purpose of extruding the compacted material from the container through an extrusion die.

The material to be extruded is fed into hopper I5, the bottom lI7 of hopper I5 being slidable thereunder, said bottom plate having a conduit I6 for the-material. Conduit I6 and bottom plate I 'l are mounted on movable crosshead 4, said `crosshead carrying the feeding or extrusion stem or piston" 5. Movable crosshead Il is connected by means of piston rods 3 with'two main hydraulic cylinders 2, said cylinders being mountedin the A plurality of tie rods 6 connect the stationary crosshead I to the platen N'I of the press.

Container 8 .is movable by means of hydraulic cylinders 9 (Fig. 1), being connected therewith The foot 34 of container 8 is slidable on ways 33 of the press .as also is movable crosshead'd. The container is pressed against platen .'I during the extrusion operation by'said hydraulic cylinders. An extrusion `die is located at I0 .througnwhich material II may be extruded, the

material shown inFig. 2 being recessed at 25 from the face `26` of the platen as it was leftafter .completion of the previous extrusion operation. `The extrusion end of container 8 is pressed against closure plate E2 by hydraulic cylinders 9 during the container filling and compacting step. Container closure plate I2 is shiftable vertically by any suitable means so thatt can be removed from the vend of container after filling-thereof and beforev the extrusion step is commenced.

The feeding-.stem or 'extrusion piston 5 has a bore I3 extending therethrough. The stem is insertable into the bore of the container from the end opposite .to the closure'before feeding so that a small space I9 remains.

Heating elements of any suitable description may be arranged around the bore which can take the form of hollow passages`2'l. Passages 29,'30, 3I,A and'32 also may be provided for conveying heating or cooling fluid to maintain correct temperature of the material in various parts of the press.

The carbon, or other material, is fed from storage container I through conduit I6 and passage 28 to the helical conveyor I4, the conduit I6 and slide plate I1 being attached to the movable crosshead so that they will reciprocate therewith. Slide plate I 1 serves to keep the bottom of hopper I5 closed.

Helical conveyor I4 is operated by a suitable means such as the motor I8 mounted on the movable crosshead 4. The pitch of the feed screw may gradually decrease so that the material is compressed and forced into spaced I9 of container 8 under an initial pressure.

The container is closed by plate I2 (Fig. 2) and as the material is first deposited in small space I9 and accumulates therein the feeding piston or extrusion stem 5 will be forced backwards, er

outwardly relative to the container, and carry the filling conduit I6 and slide plate I1 therewith. This backward movement is allowed by connection of hydraulic cylinders 2 through controlling valve (Fig. 1) and adjustable relief valve 2l, the backward movement of the movable crosshead thus being opposed by an adjustable pressure in the main hydraulic cylinders 2 so `that the material in the container is deposited under uniform pressure.

After completion of the filling operation, container 8 and extrusion piston 5 are shifted backwards by means of hydraulic cylinders 9 and 2 to the position shown in Fig. 4, and plate I2 then can be removed. If desired, a closure element 23 can be placed in the piston aperture so that when the piston 5 is again advanced, the helical screw will not be exposed to the extrusion pressure although this is not absolutely necessary. The container 8 is then moved against the die I0 and pressure thereafter is admitted to hydraulic cylinders 2 which will cause the movable crosshead to move forward and extrude the carbon-like material through die I0 so that the red-- like shape indicated at II will be formed.

\It is, of course, to be understood that other shapes may be extruded and other material used,

v carbon for electrodes being merely an example.

It also is possible to use one main cylinder instead of the two hydraulic cylinders 2 and have 'a central bore through the main cylinder through which the fill-ing piston could extend.

A modified form of the invention is shown in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, similar parts being identified with the same numbers. In the modified form, a reciprocating plunger is substituted for the helical feed screw of Figs. 1 to 4. In Figs. 5 to 8, as in Figs. 1 to 4, the stationary crosshead I supports main hydraulic cylinders 2 which are connected by rams 3 with the movable crosshead 4. Hopper I5 is provided with bottom slide plate I1 having a conduit I6 connected therewith. Container 8 is slidable on ways 33 of the press by means of hydraulic cylinders 9 acting through rods 24. Tierods 6 are provided for holding platen 1 of the press stationary relative to fixed crosshead I. 'Ihe extrusion or filling piston 5 can be placed within container 8, said piston being supported on movable crosshead 4. Extrusion die I0 is mounted in platen 1. Closure plate I2 may be raised in any suitable manner and serves to close the end of container 8 while the container is being filled.

Material is fed into container I5 and passes down conduit I6 to bore I3 of the extrusion piston 5. Reciprocating plunger 36 is operable by hydraulic cylinder 31 by a double acting piston I9' therein, cylinder 31 being stationary and mounted in crosshead 38 which is connected by tierods 39 to the main stationary crosshead I. An additional support 40 may be provided for cylinder 31, the length of cylinder 31 being determined by the stroke of the reciprocating plunger 36 as well as the movement of the extrusion piston 5. The main cylinder crosshead has anaperture 4I to permit reciprocationof plunger 36 therethrough. The main hydraulic cylinders are connected through control valve 20 with a source of pressure 42 and an exhaust relief valve 2l in a manner similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the piping being schematically shown in dashed lines 48.

When the filling operation starts, the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the carbon, or other similar material, entering bore I3 from the hopper as indicated at 43. The crosshead 4 is at this time in its position to the right, the end of the piston leaving a small space I9 in the container between the end thereof and closure plate I2. Reciprocating plunger 36 will be given a short stroke as indicated by dotted lines 44 to advance the first batch of material toward container 8. The reciprocating plunger then moves to the left and a second batch of material enters the stem bore I3 and during the next forward stroke of the reciprocating plunger, the second batch will be advanced and at the same time will push the first batch forward toward the container.` v

Suitable control means, which can be lof conventional design, and not shown, may be provided to cause the feeder to perform continuous short strokes. The bore of stem I3 will become filled, and thereafter the new material coming in will cause a corresponding amount of material to `leave the forward end of the stem bore, into the space I9. The extrusion piston 5 will be forced back gradually as material is fed into the container, closure I2 being in place, and will' cause the movable crosshead to move to the left as viewed in Fig. 2, the main cylinder being connected through control valve 20 to adjustable relief valve 2|. There is thus an adjustable pressure in the main cylinders so that the material will be deposited in container 8 under a uniform pressure. The controls for the reciprocating plunger are arranged conventionally in such a way that its forward strokes will have the same length regardless of the gradual backward movement of the filling piston and the movable crosshead, this not being a part of the present invention.

The short reciprocating movements of the plunger 36 may be stopped when the amount of material remaining to be pressed into the container equals the amount in the piston bore I3. The controls then can be adjusted to permit a long stroke of the reciprocating plunger said plunger being advanced until shoulder or collar 45 contacts the lend 46 of the movable crosshead as shown in Fig. 8.

When the filling is completed, container 8 and piston 5 are shifted backwards so that closure plate I2 may be lifted. The filling piston and container are then shifted towards the platen 1 Ainto extruding position as seen in Fig. 8, the

material to be extruded being indicated at 41. The main hydraulic cylinders are then energized and the movable crosshead moved to the right carrying therewith piston `Ei and extrudi-ng the compressed material -through die I0.

Instead of completing the filling of the container in the manner just described, short repetitivestrokes Yof the reciprocating plunger may be Vcontinued until the container 8` is charged to the desired degree. In this case, a long stroke of' the reciprocating plunger Ywill -not be -m-ade and piston bore I3 remains filled with material during the extrusion, this material being gradually fed into the container when the next filling operation is begun.

By the invention herein described, the material to'be extruded'is deposited into a -con tainer under pressure so that a uniform and homogeneous charge is obtained and following this the compacted material is extruded in the same press through an extrusion die. The apparatus used is simple and easy to incorporate into the general structure of a press. It is to be understood that various modifications may be made in the forms illustrated and described without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed:

1. In an extrusion press, a material container, a removable closure member for closing one end of said container, an extrusion piston having a feed passageway therein insertable into said container from the end of said container opposite to said closure member and movable outwardly therein away from said closure member against a predetermined force as material is fed into said container between said piston and said closure member through said passageway so as to compress said material, an extrusion die arranged to be engaged against the endof said container in place of said closure member after the container has been l'led, and means including, said extrusion piston for thereafter extruding said compressed material through said die.

2. In an extrusion press, a material container having a bore therethrough, removable closure means for one end of said bore, an extrusion piston having afeeding means therein insertable into said bore from the `end opposite to said closure member and movable outwardly therein away from said closure member against a predetermined force as material is fed into said container between said piston and said closure member, an extrusion die arranged to be engaged against the end of said container after said closure member has been removed following filling of said container with material, and means including said piston for thereafter extruding said compressed material through said die.

3. In an extrusion press, a material container having a bore therethrough, a removable closure member for closing one end of said bore, an extrusion piston having a feed passage thereininsertable into said bore from the end opposite to said closure member, operating means connected to said piston yieldable in a direction away from said closed bore end as material is fed into said bore between said piston and closure member through said feed passage so as to compress material as it is fed therein, an extrusion die engageable against the end of said container after said closure member has been removed following filling of said container with material, and means including said piston for thereafter extruding said compressed material through said die.

4. In 'an vextrusion press, the combination comprising a material container having a'bore therethrough, a removable closure member engageable with oneend of said bore for closing-the same, an extrusion piston insertable'into said bore from the end opposite said closure member to a poi-nt adjacent said 4closure member, means to feed material into vsaid bore between said piston and closure member when the piston is in said bore and the closure member is at one end of said bore, reciprocable means connected to said piston, means lconnected to vsaid reciprocable means controlling movement of said piston andallowing said piston to Amove as material is fed into said container so that said piston member moves away from said closure member-and compresses the material as it is fed into said bore, an extrusion die adapted to -be engaged with-the end of said -bore after said closure member has been removed followinglling of the borewith material, and means connected to `said piston operable thereafter-to move said extrusion piston to eX-trude said compressed material through said die.

5. In an extrusion press, a material container having a bore therethrough, a removableclosure member for closing one end of said bore, an extrusion piston insertable into said bore from the end opposite to said closure member and movable outwardly therein away from said closure member as material is fed into said bore, said piston having a material feeding passage therein, a conveyor in saidpassage, a feed inlet conduit Yconnected to saidlpassage and mounted on said piston -for movement therewith, a stationary hopper connected to said conduit,'said conduit being slidable relative thereto, an extrusion die for said bore and moving means connected to said pi-ston, said moving means being yieldable as material is fed into said bore and operable thereafter to extrude said compressedr material through said die.

A6. In an extrusion press, a material container having a bore therethrough, a removable closure member for closing one end of said bore, an

extrusion piston having a feed passage therein insertable into said bore from the end opposite to said closure member and movable outwardly therein away'from said closure member as material is fed into said bore between said closure member and said piston through said passage,

an extrusion die arranged to be engaged by theY end of said bore after said closure member hasbeen -removed following filling of said bore with material, a hydraulic means connected to said piston, and control means for said hydraulic means for exerting a predetermined force on said piston so as to compress the material as it is fed into said bore and thereafter for operating said piston for extruding said compressed material through said die.

7. In an extrusion press, a material container having a bore therethrough, a removable closure member for closing one end of said bore, an extrusion piston insertable into said bore from the end opposite to said closure member and movable outwardly therein away from said closure member as material is fed into said bore between said piston and closure member, a material feed conduit for said piston, an extrusion die arranged to vbe engaged against the end of said bore after said closure member has been removed following lling of said bore with material, a hydraulic mechanism connected to said piston, and a hydraulic `mechanism fluid control means regulating the flow of iiuid from said hydraulic mechanism so as to exert a predetermined force onV said extrusion piston to compress said material as it is fed into said bore and operable to control the flow of uid to said Ahydraulic mechanism for thereafter operating said extrusion piston for extruding said compressed material through said die.

8. In an extrusion press, a material container having a bore, a removable closure member for one end of said bore, an extrusion piston insertable into said container said piston having a helical conveyor therein, said piston being slidable within said bore and 'movable outwardly therein against a predetermined force as material is fed into said container by said helical conveyor between said piston and closure member, an extrusion die arranged to engagel the end of lsaid bore after said closure member has been removed, and means including said piston and conveyor for thereafter extruding said compressed material through said die.

9. In an extrusion press, a material container having a bore, a removable closure member for closing one end of said bore, an extrusion piston insertable into said container and slidable in the bore thereof, said piston having a passage therethrough, a rotatable decreasing pitch helical conveyor mounted in said passage, said extrusion piston being movable outwardly in said bore against a predetermined force as material is fed into said container between said piston and closure member by said conveyor, and an extrusion die arranged to engage the end of said bore after said closure member has been removed, and means including said extrusion piston for thereafter extruding said compressed material through said die.

10. In an extrusion press, a material container having a bore, a removable closure member for closing one end of said bore, an extrusion piston insertable into `said bore, said piston having a material passageway therein, a rotatable helical conveyor in said passage, a material feed conduit connected to said passage and carried by said piston, a movable piston support, and an actuator for said piston support yieldable as material is fed into said closed container between said piston and closure member and operable after said container is full and the closure member removed to extrude said compressed material through an extrusion die arranged to be engaged against the end of said bore.

11. In an extrusion press, an extrusion die support, a material container movable relative to said die, a closure member insertable between said container and die, means for moving said container relatively toward and away from said die and closure member, an extrusion piston insertable into said container, a material feeder in said piston, and piston reciprocating means yieldable as material is fed into said container between said piston and closure member so that said piston can move outwardly therein as material is fed and operable thereafter, upon removal of said closure member and movement of said container against said die, for extrusion of material through the die.

12. In an extrusion press, an extrusion die support, a die, a material container movable relative to said die, said container having a bore therethrough, a closure member insertable between said container and die for closing one end of said bore, means for moving said container relatively toward and away from vsaid die and closure member, anl extrusion piston insertable into said bore from the end opposite to the closure member, a material feeder in said piston, piston reciprocating means yieldable as material is fed into said container through said piston between said piston and closure member so that said piston is movable outwardly away from the closed end of said container as material is fed therein, and means to operate said piston thereafter to extrude the compressed material through said die after removal of said closure member and movement of said container against said die.

13. In an extrusion press, an extrusion die support, a die in a material container movable relative to said die, said container having a bore therethrough, a closure member insertable between said container and die for closing one end of said bore, means for moving said container relatively toward and away from said die and closure member, an extrusion piston insertable into said container toward said closure member, said piston having a material feeding passageway therein, a helical conveyor mounted in said passageway, piston operating means yieldable outwardly away from the closed end of said bore as material is fed into said container between said piston and closure member to compress material therein as it is fed, and means to move said'piston through said bore after removal of said closure member and movement of said container against said die for extrusion of compressed material through said die.

14. In an extrusion press, a material container having a bore, a removable closure member for one end of said bore, an extrusion piston slidab-ly insertable into said bore and movable outwardly in said bore as material is fed therein between said piston and closure member, a reciprocable plunger in said piston for feeding material into said bore, an extrusion die arranged to be engaged against one end of said bore after material has been fed thereto and said closure member removed, and means including said piston for thereafter extruding said compressed material through said die.

15. In an extrusion press, a material container having a bore, a removable closure member for closing one end of said bore, an extrusion piston insertable into said container and slidable in the bore thereof, said piston having a passage therethrough, a reciprocating feed plunger in said passage, said piston being movable outwardly in said bore against a predetermined force as material is fed into said container between said piston and closure member by said reciprocable feed plunger, an extrusion die arranged to engage against the end of said bore after said closure member has been removed, and means including said extrusion piston for thereafter extruding said compressed material through said die.

16. In an extrusion press, an extrusion die support, a material container movable relative to said die, said container having a bore therethrough, a closure member insertable between said container and die for closing one end of said bore, means for moving said container relatively toward and away from said die and closure member, an extrusion piston insertable into saidl container toward said closure member, said piston having a material feeding passageway therein, a reciprocable feeding plunger mounted in said passageway, piston operating means yieldable outwardly away from the closed end of said bore as material is fed into said container between said piston and closure member to compress material therein, and means to move said piston through said bore against compressed material therein after removal of said closure member and movement of said container against said die for extrusion of compressed material through said die.

HUGO LORANT.

REFERENCES CITED Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Rees Nov. 7, 1911 Nanfeldt Nov. 24, 1936 Knapp June 21, 1938 Narten June 16, 1942 Banigan et a1 Sept. 15, 1942 Loewy Nov. 6, 1945 

